Alliance aims for COTS IP compliance

Mentor is joining Altera's DO-254 Global Partner Network to set up design and verification best practices for DO 254-certifiable IP development and integration flows.

Supporting the growing number of avionics and military applications requiring DO-254-certifiable components, Altera and Mentor Graphics are working together to develop tools and methodologies for use in creating DO-254-certifiable intellectual property (IP) that targets Altera's FPGA and HardCopy ASIC solutions.

As part of this announcement, Mentor will join Altera's DO-254 Global Partner Network in order to establish design and verification best practices for DO 254-certifiable IP development and integration flows.

Under this initiative, Mentor will leverage its expertise and industry-leading design and verification solutions in the development of DO-254-certifiable IP.

The primary tools in Mentor's DO-254 suite include HDL Designer, Precision Synthesis, ModelSim, Questa, the 0-In suite of formal verification tools, and a new solution for automating requirements traceability.

Mentor also offers DO-254 compliance training, design methodology assessments, and consulting services, including a DO-254 Jumpstart package aimed at establishing advanced verification methodologies for DO-254 designs.

"DO-254-certifiable IP is a huge productivity gain for our customers who have to comply with the DO-254 standard", said Amr El-Ashmawi, Senior Business Unit Manager of Altera's Military/Aerospace Market.

"Now instead of having to reverse engineer or redevelop a commonly used component, companies can actually reap the productivity benefit of off-the-shelf certifiable networking and processor IP, with the confidence of knowing that it supports the design assurance needs of their flows and thus does not present a certification risk".

Altera, through its DO-254 Global Partner Network, currently offers a safety-critical version of its Nios II embedded processor.

The certification aspects of this core were developed by HCELL Engineering using Mentor tools.

Tammy Reeve, President of Patmos Engineering Services, a firm that acts as a certification authority under the guidance of the FAA, stated: "Dealing with COTS IP under the guidance of DO-254 has been one of the industry's biggest challenges to date".

"I'm excited to see vendors like Altera and Mentor taking the initiative to address a very important aspect of these flows to make COTS IP compliant with DO-254".

"Their efforts could save hardware applicants a lot of resources and frustration".

"Working with Altera on DO-254-certifiable IP is the next step for us in supporting the needs of this market", said Michelle Lange, DO-254 Programme Manager, Mentor Graphics.

"Mentor recognised the importance of DO-254 at its inception and has been investing in solutions for DO-254 certification for several years".

"This initiative lets us leverage both our methodology expertise and tools to not only provide the industry with high-quality IP but also the tool and methodology guidance that many are seeking".

Enforced by worldwide aviation safety agencies since 2005, the DO-254 standard was developed by the avionics industry to establish design assurance and guidance for airborne electronic hardware designs.

Altera's DO-254 Global Partner Network provides a comprehensive environment of DO-254-certifiable IP cores, best practice methodologies, best-in-class tools and in-house DO-254 expertise.

The DO-254 Global Partner Network supports the needs of companies developing hardware that requires DO 254 Level A, B, C or D compliance.

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